Charles frederick miller and alexander whiteside carlile



(No Model.)

' C. F. MILLER 8a A. W. GARLILE.

REFRIGERATOR.

No. 453,651. Patented June 9,1891.

I iT STATES PATENT 'OFFICE (.IIIARLES FREDERICK MILLER AND ALEXANDER THITESIDE CARLILE, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA SAID CARLILE ASSIGNOR TO SAID MILLER..

REFRIGERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,651, dated June 9, 1891. Application filled November 29, 1890. Serial No. 373,031. (No model.)

To all whom it mag/concern;

Be it known that we, CHARLES FREDERICK MILLER and ALEXANDER WHITESIDE CAR- LILE, citizens of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerators; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to increase the efciency of refrigerating devices operating by the alternate vaporization and lique faction of volatile liquids, the same being conducted while in the gaseous form in a closed pipe through a refrigcrating-chest for the purpose of cooling the contents of the latter. To this end We adapt the said devices, whether within or Without the chest, to be used either in the compressing or the absorbing system of refrigeration, and combine them with compressing and absorbing devices and the necessary tubular connect-i ons and cut-off valves, as hereinafter stated.

The said invention also consists in certain mechanism whereby an insufficient supply of refrigerating-vapor is made to automatically cure itself by the action of the overheated vapor on devices eXpansible by heat, this device being connected to an outlet-valve of a receptacle of volatile liquids, and in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter particularly set forth and claimed.

In 'the accompanying drawing, the figure represents a side elevation, partly in section, of the refrigeratin g apparatus embodying our invention.

A designates the refrigerating-chest; B, a horizontal platform extending out from one side it, and C a smaller horizontal platform extendingoutfrom thc other side, each platform resting on a bracket Z1 or c, attached to said chest and on a leg or supporting-block B C under the outer end ot' said platform.

On the platform B three generating-cylinders D E F are supported, cach being heated by a lamp G or other calorific device in a chamber G' under said cylinder or generator. Generators D and E are surrounded by water-jackets D E', provided with inletpipes d e and outlet-pipes CZ e for allowing the supply of water to said jackets and its escape therefrom. Each of these pipes is pro- 5 5 vided with acut-olf valve d2 for controlling or stopping such flow. A horizontal pipe Gr'2 receives branch pipes g g' g2 from said generators, the pipes g g' extending down within the generators D E, respectively, and nearly 6o vto the bottoms thereof. The pipe g2 extends down to and within the generator F.

A cut-olf valve f is arranged in pipe G2 between pipes g and g', a similar valve f being in pipe g and another f2 in pipe g2. 65 Each of these valves thus serves to cut olf one of these generators from communieating with the others. The cylinder F is used only as a rc-enforcng generator to sup` ply gaseous ammonia to either one or both of 7o the vother generators when the ammoniacal solution therein becomes Weak. lVhen the valve f2 is closed, both of the generators D and E are cut oft' from cylinder or generator F. When this valve is open and either one of the other valves for f is open also, the generator to which the valve f or f belongs will be supplied by re-enforcing generator When all the valves ff f2 are open; both of i the generators D and E are thus supplied. 8o

From generator D a pipe h extends upward, forming a coil l-I within a steam-condensing cylinder I; and from generator E a similar pipe h extends upward, forming likewise a coil II within asteam-condensing cylinder I. S5 The pipes 71.` h join afterpassing through Said condensing-cylinders, the former being bent into a horizontal position for convenience and provided with a cut-off valve h2 before reaching the pointof junction.. Thepipe 9o h is also provided with a similar valve h3 above the cylinder I. Each steam-condensing cylinder I or I is provided with a water-inlet '1i and a water-outlet fi. The current of cold water passing through cach cylinder from the 9 inlet to the outlet condenses the steam in the gas ascending from the generator through the coil, and this steam in the form of Water runs back into the generator, vleaving the ammoniacal gasin said coil comparatively free.

From the junction of the pipes h 71. al' ong horizontal pipe .T extends to and bev-,mil a IOC point where a pipe j is attached thereto, leading to a pressure-gage J A valve J 2 in said pipe J beyond this point cuts oft at will all further passage of the gas in that direction 5 and directs it into a. pipe k, opposite to pressure-gage pipe j. This pipe k is formed into a coil K within a condensin g-cylinder L, which is provided with an inlet l and an outlet Z and operates like those condensing-cylinders xo before described. Its otice is to convert into liquid the vapor passing through said coil, and the degree of cold in the condenser is adaptedl thereto. Froin this coil and condenser the pipe 7.# extends down to a storage- .r tank M for the liquefied Ygas located within said refrigerating-chest.l From the lower end of this tank the ammoniacal liquid descends through a pipe m to a cooling-pipe fn, which is formed into a large cooling-coil N within 2o said ,refrigerator-chest. From this coil the liquid passes through a pipe N to a cylinder O, for a purpose hereinafter explained, and

thence through a pipe N2 to the pipe G2, leading to the generators. During the passage of the liquid through the coil N it expands .into gas again, abstracting heat in so doing from the interior of the refrigerating-chest and Whatever the latter may contain. The

gas thus produced is received by one of the 3o generators D or E, the other generator of this pair being cut off by the valve f or f', before described. These generators are used alternatelyy-thatis to say, one is used for generating during a considerable period and then 3 5 the other, the receiving one beingl cooled by the Coldwater applied to its jackctor sur- Y rounding water-space, as before described,

while the other isheated'by its lamp to gen'- erate gas.

Instead -of allowing the refrigerant to pass directly from pipe m to pipe ln and coil N, as

before described, Wema-y use it in the transit to cool or freeze liquid. Thus the pipe -fmis provided with va downward extension lm',

which enters a small brine-tank P.`and forms a coil P on the bottom the'reof, thence pass- .ing out and connecting with an-'upwarcbex- 'tending pipe 'm2, which leads to pipe ln. aforesaid. Pipe'n is provided with a; valve n. bc-

5o tween pipes mA and m2 for cutting olf at will the passage from the former directly to` the latter, and thus bringing said brine-chest into the circuit'. Pipes m and narc provided with valves m3 and m4 for controlling the currentthrough said brine-chest. Ice-cans P2 re set into th'e t-op of the lat-terand supplied with wa-ter to be frozen.

v be set into the brinc-withinsaid chest, the

top', to which said cans are attached, being 6o removable. 'Y Y Y A valve M in pipe m serves to regulate the How-'of liquid from the tank M to the coil N, whether the said brine-chest be in circuit or not; It is very desirable to make the ac- 6 5 tion of this valveautomatic, so that the weakening-andcons'equent overheating of tht. re-

frigerant may compensate foritselt by partly Bottles of wine may or wholly opening the said valve beyond the position previously occupied thereby. To

\ this end, We provide an alcohol-tube O2 in the form of a worm or spiral, within cylinderO aforesaid, where the ammoniacal gas after leaving coil N has access to it. One end of said alcohol-tube is closed; but the other end opens into a cylinder O', Where it acts on a piston Q, t-he rod Q of which is adjustably attached to an angle-lever R, pivoted to a bracket S on the outside of the machine.l A connecting-rod t extends from the other end of this angle-lever to a disk s on the rotary valve rod or stem s ot the said valve M. 'lheoverheating of' the gas and consequent expansion of the alcohol in the said tube will through these connections open the said valve and allow a larger supply of fluid to pass down from the tank.

From the pipeJ beyond the valve J2 a long pipe U extends down to a pump Y, mounted 011 platform C. Thispump supplied through Pipe 'its having` valve w" from an external storage-tank V, provided with pressure-gage W' and water-jacket XV?, the latter having inlet 102 and outlet '103.

N ,cylinder O, and pipe N2 aforcsaidyand a pipeX, leading from .the latter, a coil X in a condenser-Z, and a pipe Z', leading from said coil to said tank XV. The pipe X is provided with. a valve and the condenser Z is previded with a water-inlet 'y and a Water-outlet y. Vhen this pump and external tank are used,neitherot the generators is employed as a means of supplying the inner storage-tank M or as a receptacle for the gas givcn ott by the coil N. This gas is 'cooled inthe condenser Z, and again in the external tank \V, but does not become liquefied until it reaches the inn er storage-tank M. This liquefaction is chiefly due to the pressure caused by the continuing action of said pump. The valve M then is opened slightly or opens automatically by the means hereinbefore described, and the refrigerating action proceeds within the chest A. This pump circuit 'or system is used when both the generators a-re undergoing repairs or cleansin or when for any reasoirit is deemed best not to use them for a time. Thus our tank and coil are adapted to be used with either the compression system or the absorption system of refrigeration, the pump being the compressing agent in the one case, and the generator in use being a receptacle for-liquid material adapted to absorb the vapors given oi by the coil.

Either generator alone or the pump alone, with, of course, in each instance the necessary connections, will suffice as a means of charging the storage-tank M, which is always the means of supplying the cooling-coil N, these two latter devices with the automatic controlling mechanism being the only ones/necessarily actively employed during long intervals.

Each generator D or- E, when used for The gas passes to this storage-tank from the coil N through the pipe lOC lIO

IIS

charging, is heated by the lamp as aforesaid, and when used for absorption is cooled by a current of cold water through its jacket, the heated water being of course first withdrawn.

The chief use of the third generator' Fis to compensate for Weakness of the gas due to leakage. lVhen its own charge becomes weak after one or more heatings, or when for any reason withdrawaleof it becomes necessary, the contents of said cylinder or generator may be entirely withdrawn through an outlet-cock F near the bottom thereof, a fresh supply of ammonia being introduced at the top of said generator through supply-tube F2.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with the pipes and other passages of a refrigerati ng-circuit, a valve arranged in one part thereof, a device ex pansible by heat arranged in another part thereof, and connections between said device and saidvalve, in order that the expansion of the former caused by the insuihcient supply and consequent overheating of the gas or vapor may open the latter to increase the flow of volatile liquid beyond said valve, and thus compensate for overheating, substantially as set forth.

2. A storage-tank for volatile liquid, in combination with a valve controllingr the outflow of said liquid therefrom, a tubular coil supplied thereby, an alcohol-tube closed at one end, open at the other end, and arranged in the passage or tubular communication between said coil and said tank and before the latter in the circuit, a piston arranged to be acted on by the expansion of the alcohol through the open end of 'the tube, and a connecting-rod and lever making connection between the piston-rod and the valve-rod, substantially as and for the purpose set fort-h.

3. A storage-tank for liquefied volatile refrigerant, in combination wit-h a coil supplied thereby, a condensing-pump, a receptacle adapted to contain absorbent material, a tube extending from the outlet of said coil, tubu lar connections from this tube to the said pump and receptacle, respectively, an inlettube for said tank, tubula-r connections to the said inlet from said pump and s aid receptacle, and valves for cutting out ot circuit at will either the receptacle or the pump, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a i'efrigerai'or-ehest, a brine-chest formed in a corner thereof and adapted to receive and support Water-cans in its cover, a coil in said brine-chest, a storage` tank for vaporizable liquid, a tube connecting said tank with said coil, the main coolingcoil for said chest, tubular connections from one of these coils to the other and from the tank directly to the :main coil, valves allowing the coil in the brine-chamber to be cut off or admitted into the circuit at will, and tubular connections from the main coil to the receiving end of `the said tank, substantially as set forth.

5. A tank for volatile liquid, in combination with a condenser through which it is supplied, a compressing device, and an absorbing and generating device, each having tubular connection with the inlet end of said condenser and tubular connections between the outlet of said tank and the aforesaid compressing and absorbing and generating devices, the said devices being used alternatively, substantially as set forth.

6. A tank for volatile liquid, in co1nbnation with a compressin g-puni p and a generator, each connected by tubular devices in circuit therewith, a'nd a common condenser for said pump and said generator', which receives the gas discharged from them` on'its way to the said tank, the said pump and' generator being. used alternatively, substantially as set forth. 'l

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES FREDERICK MILLER. ALEXANDER llfHITESIDE CARLILE. Witnesses:

JACOB IIALBACH, WILLIAM PRICE. 

